Herron ran for 145 yards and scored on runs of 2, 25, 3 and 10 yards in a game in which Allatoona never trailed.
After moving up two classifications to Class AAAAA this season, Allatoona was in for a huge challenge trying to follow its 12-1 record in 2011.
The Buccaneers are now 3-0 and remain in the hunt for a region championship.
However, Allatoona still has some work to do, according to coach Gary Varner.
“I’m really proud of the kids because they came out with the right attitude against Rome (Friday),” Varner said. “Our offensive line played well and did a great job of picking up Rome’s blitzes and stunts. I guess a coach is really never happy, though, because we have got to do a better job on special teams than we did (Friday).”
The only thing that kept Rome (2-1) in the game was two kickoff returns for touchdowns that both tallied more than 90 yards. Except for those scores, the Wolves could only manage a lone field goal against the Buccaneer defense.
Allatoona kept the Wolves on their heels defensively all night by mixing up its offensive arsenal. In addition to Herron’s big night on the ground, Allatoona quarterback Jeremy Uzee performed well through the air by completing 10-of-16 passes for 151 yards.
After the Buccaneers went up 19-3 midway through the second quarter, it looked like the game was going to be a blowout. Then Rome’s Myron Washington returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown to cut Allatoona’s lead to 19-10.
Rome struck again on special teams late in the third quarter after Allatoona went ahead 33-10 on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Uzee to Clarence Solberry. Frank Griffin stunned the home crowd once more when he returned the Allatoona kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to trim the lead to 33-17.
The kickoff returns were not enough, though, as the Buccaneers continued to run through the Rome defense.
“We just couldn’t get the Allatoona offense off the field (Friday),” Rome coach Franco Perkins said. “We couldn’t stop their running game and their running backs just took it to us. They are a well-coached team.”
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